Watch: Shadab Khan took a spectacular flying catch at square leg to dismiss the Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in the first ODI of the three-match Afghanistan-Pakistan series in Hambantota yesterday (August 22).

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Pakistan found themselves in a spot of bother as they were bundled out for 201 in the 48th over. Imam-ul-Haq was the only one to go past fifty, scoring 61 off 94 balls.

Shadab Khan provided Imam decent support lower down the order, helping Pakistan cross the 200-run mark. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the wrecker-in-chief for Afghanistan. He dismissed Babar Azam for a duck in his first over and removed Mohammad Rizwan soon after, finishing his quota of 10 overs with figures of 3-33.

Afghanistan would have fancied their chances when they came out to bat, but were completely blown away by the Pakistan pace battery. Shaheen Shah Afridi got two in two balls in the third over before Naseem Shah got rid of Hashmatullah Shahidi in the third.

Shahidi’s wicket was as much down to Shadab’s brilliance in the field as it was to Naseem’s bowling. Unable to control a pull off a quick short ball aimed at his head, Shahidi got it high on his bat. For a while, it looked like it would just about lob over Shadab, who was standing near the square leg umpire.

Shadab jumped backwards and got both hands to the ball, but couldn’t keep it in as it fell out. However, he grabbed at it on his way down and caught it on the second attempt, cutting short Shahidi’s innings and increasing Afghanistan’s woes.

Haris Rauf then dismantled the middle and lower-middle orders to snare a maiden ODI five-for to bowl Afghanistan out for 59, the lowest score by any side against Pakistan and Afghanistan’s second-lowest score against any team.

Watch Shadab Khan take a flying catch on the second attempt to dismiss Afghanistan captain:

Skipper @Hashmat_50 was unlucky not to clear @76Shadabkhan who took a flying catch. #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #SuperColaCup | #ByaMaidanGato pic.twitter.com/0bfWe8Dmf0

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 22, 2023

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